Good Night

The Drunken Boar Tavern never lacked entertainment. Conflicts like this happened every so often, and everyone was already used to them.

Gray's insulting words had reached the companions at the bald brute's table. Several of them had already risen to their feet, looking eager to jump in.

"Are there any other bald monks here besides you?"

Gray did not back down. He pulled out a gold coin and slapped it onto the table.

"Marianne, I'll cover your entire appearance fee tonight. Stay with me and don't go anywhere."

"Fuck! Who the hell are you trying to impress with your lousy coins?"

The bald man was thoroughly enraged. He reached out, trying to pull Marianne from Gray's arms.

Gray slapped the bald man's hand away.

"I'm warning you—don't mistake my courtesy for weakness!"

"Fuck, you really think you're something? You dare touch me?!"

The bald man flew into a rage. He grabbed a ceramic wine jug and swung it at Gray's head.

Gray nimbly dodged aside, and the jug missed. Then he followed up with an uppercut that landed squarely on the bald man's chin!

The punch carried tremendous force. Struck in such a vulnerable spot, the bald man briefly lost consciousness.

His body toppled stiffly backward, crushing a wooden table and sending liquor splashing everywhere.

The nearby customers burst into screams and scrambled away in panic.

Naturally, Gray would not miss this opportunity. With a strange yell, he mounted the bald brute and began raining down left and right hooks.

"Fuck! This brat dared to beat up one of ours!"

"Get him!"

"Teach him a lesson!"

The bald brute's companions immediately got up. Four or five men shoved their way over, looking menacing.

"No, no, what's going on...? Is this turning into a tavern brawl?" Zeliel stared in disbelief at how things had escalated.

"Looks like it can't be avoided. Let's go."

Marcus undid two buttons on his shirt and joined the fray.

With a charge, he rammed into the first two men like a wild bull, hoisted them onto his shoulders, and slammed them viciously into the floor.

Bang!

"Ugh...!"

The solid impact drew pained cries from the bald man's companions, their faces turning pale.

"Can I use magic?" Zeliel asked.

"No need. It's just a tavern fight. One wind blade would kill quite a few people."

Although Vales did not usually seem like the hot-tempered type, he did not shrink back at a time like this.

Before making a move, Vales reminded Zeliel of something.

"Use your fists."

Then Vales grabbed a wine glass and hurled it.

It struck the head of someone trying to sneak up on Gray from behind. Vales then rolled up his sleeves, rushed forward, and threw a straight punch that left his opponent's nose streaming with blood.

"All right, all right..."

Zeliel sighed.

The next second, he grabbed a stool and joined the melee.

The atmosphere in the tavern reached its peak, and the onlookers shouted their approval.

Cries such as "Hit him with an uppercut!", "Elbow him!", and "Kick him in the balls!" came one after another, egging them on.

The barmaids screamed as they fled, while the owner shouted himself hoarse trying to break up the fight. But it was all futile. No one could stop this wild brawl fueled by alcohol and hormones.

Blackstone Town's night seemed to have become a little livelier again.

Creak—

With a soft sound, the wooden door of the Nightflower Inn was pushed open, and a wave of late-night chill swept inside.

Behind the counter, Auro had been staring blankly at the candle flame. Startled by the sound, she immediately looked up.

"It's Mr. Zeliel... Why are you only getting back now?"

But as Zeliel walked in and the candlelight fell across his face, Auro finally saw him clearly, and her expression froze.

Zeliel looked rather bedraggled. His gray coat was stained with liquor and dust, one corner of his mouth was bruised, and there was a scabbed streak of blood above his brow.

"Oh... are you hurt?" Auro let out a small cry of surprise.

"Ah... this?"

Zeliel subconsciously touched his cheek. When his fingers brushed the bruise, he could not help hissing.

Still, he stubbornly waved it off.

"It's nothing, just a flesh wound."

Although they had won the tavern brawl handily and beaten the other side black and blue, they had still taken a few injuries.

It could not be helped. Zeliel was a mage, after all, and was not particularly skilled with fists and feet. Facing those wild punches swinging at his face, he was bound to take a few hits.

"How could it be nothing?"

Auro's brows furrowed slightly. Without giving him any room to argue, she pressed Zeliel into a chair near the fireplace. "Wait here. I'll get some medicine."

"Uh... thank you."

Zeliel rested for a while, rubbing his temple.

Before long, Auro returned carrying a copper basin full of clean water, with a towel draped over her arm.

After soaking the towel, Auro gently wrung it out, leaving it slightly damp.

"It might hurt a little. Please bear with it."

As Auro drew closer, a faint scent of lavender drifted over. She gently wiped the bloodstain from Zeliel's face, her expression focused.

Unlike the simple and rough way Vales had treated Gray, Auro's movements carried a woman's unique gentleness and care, making it feel very comfortable.

Because she had lowered her head, several strands of soft, wavy brown hair fell beside Auro's ear. As she moved, they lightly brushed Zeliel's cheek, bringing a faint tickle.

"I've actually wanted to ask you for a while... Is Mr. Zeliel an adventurer?" Auro suddenly asked.

"Yes." Zeliel nodded.

"Then you must have encountered many dangerous things, right?"

"Not too bad. I dealt with them all one by one." Zeliel smiled.

"Mr. Zeliel is really amazing." Auro praised him sincerely.

Auro was a little older than Zeliel, yet this boy, younger than herself, had left his hometown and come alone to an unfamiliar town to become an adventurer.

That kind of courage was truly admirable.

She took out a packet of white powder from her clothes, shook some out, and gently applied it to Zeliel's wound.

The cool sensation eased the burning pain in his cheek considerably. Zeliel said softly, "Thank you..."

"You don't have to be so polite."

Auro looked up with a sweet smile. "I just think that someone as young as you, traveling around on your own, must have a very difficult journey. So I wanted to help you a little."

"You say I don't need to be polite, but you still call me 'Mr.' every other word." Zeliel smiled.

Auro froze slightly, then understood. Her smiling eyes curved into crescents, revealing her cute little canine teeth again.

"Then I'll just call you by your name, Zeliel."

"Of course."

"Hehe, whenever you go out on a mission in the future, I'll cheer for you!"

Auro put away the copper basin and towel, tilting her head playfully.

"Good night, Zeliel."